Axle-lubricator.



- W. H. McFALL.

AXLE LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1915.

1,1 85,1 1 3. Patnted May 30, 1916.

WaltamE/MWM INVEN TOR Atlomey WALTON HURST MoFALL, 0F MOUNT SOLON,VIRGINIA.

AXLE-LUBRIGATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed June 16, 1915. Serial No. 34,431.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, WALTON H. MCFALL, citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Solon, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia,have invented a new and useful Axle-Lubricator, of which the followingis a'specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in axle lubricators, and theobject is to provide means for conducting the lubricant to the spindleof an axle without removing the wheel from the spindle.

A further object is in providing the clip which connects the wooden barto the axle, with a lubricant reservoir from which reservoir thelubricant is conducted to the axle spindle.

The invention consists of certain. novel features of construction andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointedout in the claims.

It will be evident that many slight changes might be made in the formand arrangement of the several parts to be described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not wish tobe limited to the exact construction herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a view in section showing theinvention applied to an axle. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectionalview on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of theclip.

A represents the axle, and B is the spindle. A wooden bar 1 ismountedupon the axle A and is connected thereto by means of a clip 2. The clip2 is preferably made U-shaped and is provided at its lower terminalswith screw-threaded shanks 3. A plate is received beneath the axle A andis provided .with openings through which the shanks 3 extend. Nuts 5have screw-threaded engagement with the shanks 3 for fastening the plateto the clip, and thereby confining the axle and wooden bar within theclip.

Connected to the inner wall of the clip, and extending transverselythereof, is an oil reservoir 6, the outer surface of which beingpreferably convex, and the side walls are preferably tapered, the sidewalls 7 'taporing from the clip to the bottom of the reservoir 6.Connected to the lower portion or bottom of the reservoir is a tube 8for conducting the lubricant to a hole or well 9 formed in the'uppersurface of the axle A.

The reservoir 6 is mounted in a recess or cavity 10 formed in the uppersurface of the bar'l, and an opening 11 is formed in the bar which formsa communication between the recess 10 and the hole or well 9 of theaxle. The tube 8 of the reservoir extends through the opening 11 andinto the well 9. A longitudinal groove 12 is formed in the spindle, andan opening 13 is formed in the axle for conducting the oil from the well9 to the groove 12. v

Mounted in the groove l2-and opening 13 is an absorbent or wicking 14for conducting the lubricant lengthwise of the spindle so that the wheelwill be perfectly lubri-' cated. The inner terminal of the wick does notextend to the well 9, but is located a short dlstance beyond the well,so that it will not interfere with the free flow of the oil or lubricantfrom the reservoir.

Pivotally connected to the clip 2 is an as a valve for closing theopening 18 of the clip leading to the reservoir 6'. A milled orcorrugated knob 19 is connected to the exterior surface of the cover 15whereby the valve may be seated or unseated as occasion demands. v a

The construction of a lubricator in the manner set forth will notmaterially weaken the wooden bar because it is carried by the clip whichfastens the bar to the axle, in other words, the lubricator is notmounted on the wooden bar where the bar is unprotected by clips and thelike. A clip provided with a lubricator of this character can be mountedor applied to any vehicle axle, without presenting an unsightly appearance, and there will hardly be any perceptible difference in itsconstruction from the clips generally used, to the casual observer.

The lubricant or oil is conducted from the reservoir 6, by thetube 8, tothe well 9 of the axle and an even flow of oil is provided which willflow over the entire surface of the spindle causing the lubricant to beapplied to the portions of the spindle which receive the greatest amountof wear.

The oval shaped cover 15 is prevented fro-m raising or becomingdisengaged as it is rigidly connected to the clip by the rivet, andbeing made of spring metal it will remain in its closed position underits own tension. The cover 15 and valvel? will prevent theescape of thelubricant from the reservoir, and the ingress of foreign matter to thereservoir and spindle.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a lubricatorwhich consists of few parts, is simple in construction, and readilyapplied. There are no parts to get out of order, or which will interferewith the free flow of the lubricant fro-m the reservoir to the spindle.

That is claimed is,

1. The combination with an axle and spindle, a bar mounted on the axle,of a clip for fastening the bar to the axle, a reservoir mounted withinthe clip and adapted to be countersunk in the bar when the clip is inplace, and means for conducting a lubricant from the reservoir to thespindle.

2. The combination of an axle and spindle, a bar mountedon the axlehaving a recess therein, a clip for connecting the bar and axletogether, a reservoir connected to the clip and received in the recessof the bar, and means for conducting the lubricant from the reservoir tothe spindle.

8. The combination of an axle and spindle, a bar mounted on the axlehaving a recess therein, said axle provided with a well, a clip forconnecting the bar and axle together, a reservoir mounted on the clipand received in the recess, means for conducting the lubricant from thereservoir to the well of the axle, and means for conducting thelubricant from the well of the axle to the spindle.

4. The combination of an axle and spindle, said axle provided with awell, and said spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, said axlehaving an opening therein communicating with the well and groove, a barmounted on the axle provided with a recess, a clip for connecting thebar to the axle, a reservoir formed on the inner surface of the clip andreceived in the recesses, and means for conducting the lubricant fromthe reservoir to the well of the axle.

5. The-combination with a clip having a reservoir formed on the innersurface thereof, said clip provided with an opening for filling thereservoir, a cover pivotally mounted upon the clip being provided with avalve for closing the opening, and a tube connected to the reservoirthrough which the lubricant is discharged.

6. In combination with an axle, and a bar on the axle, a clip securingthe bar to the axle, a reservoir countersunk in the clip and in the bar,a cover plate pivoted upon the outer face of the clip and lyingthereagainst, and a valve depending from the free end of the cover platefor closing the top of the reservoir.

7. In combination with an axle having a well therein, and a bar on theaxle having an opening leading to the well, a clip securing the bar tothe axle, a reservoir located between the arms of the clip and beingcountersunk in said bar, and a tube depending from the reservoir in theopening in the bar to conduct a lubricant from the reservoir into saidwell.

8. The combination with an axle and spindle, said axle provided with awell, a bar mounted upon the axle having an opening therethrough incommunication with the well, a clip for connecting the bar and axletogether, a reservoir formed on the inner surface of the clip, a tubeconnected to the reservoir extending into the well of the axle forconducting the lubricant from the reservoir to the well, said clipprovided with an opening for admitting the lubricant to the reservoir, aspring cover conforming to the contour of the clip for maintaining thecover upon the clip, means for pivotally connecting the clip to thecover, a valve carried by the cover received in the opening 7 of theclip for closing the opening, and a knob on the cover for moving thecover.

9. The combination with an axle and spindle, said axle provided with awell, a bar mounted upon the axle having an opening therethrough incommunication with the well, a clip for connecting the bar and axletogether, a reservoir formed on-the inner surface of the clip, a tubeconnected to the reservoir and extending into the well of the axle forconducting the lubricant from the reservoir to the well, said clipprovided with an opening for admitting the lubricant to the reservoir, aspring cover conforming to the contour of the clip for maintaining thecover upon the clip, means for pivotally connecting the clip to thecover, a valve carried by the cover received in the-opening of the clipfor closing the opening, a knob on the cover for moving the cover, saidspindle provided with a groove in communication with the well of theaxle, and a wicking mounted in the groove for conducting the lubricantto the spindle.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTON HURST MGFALL.

Witnesses PETER DRIVER, MARTIN @opies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents, Washington,D. O.

